Gullickson Kirsten M, LaChapelle Diane L
Department of Psychology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada.
Can J Pain. 2018 Jul 23;2(1):205-217. doi: 10.1080/24740527.2018.1485482. eCollection 2018.
Patients who are more accepting of their chronic arthritis pain report better physical, mental, and occupational functioning, but acceptance of arthritis from the partner perspective has received little attention in the literature. In fact, no attempts have been made to define partner acceptance of arthritis and no psychometrically validated measure currently exists.
The aim of this study was to use qualitative research methods to identify the features of partner acceptance of arthritis and examine the similarities and differences between patient and partner acceptance in an arthritis context.
Twenty-one romantic partners of individuals with arthritis participated in a semistructured interview focusing on their experiences adjusting to their spouse's arthritis and their general perceptions of the meaning of acceptance. Interview transcripts were coded using thematic analysis.
Partners' descriptions of acceptance differed slightly across accounts, but the majority of participants agreed that acceptance is part of a positive process of adjusting to arthritis. Six themes that characterize the acceptance process were identified: (1) understanding the nature of arthritis; (2) believing in the patient's pain experience; (3) living with negative feelings; (4) establishing a new normal; (5) engaging in valued activities; and (6) relationship willingness.
The identified themes share some commonalities with experiential acceptance and patient chronic pain acceptance, although partner acceptance of arthritis also has several unique features. These findings suggest that more research on this distinct construct is merited. Directions for future research on partner acceptance of arthritis are discussed.
对慢性关节炎疼痛接受度较高的患者，其身体、心理和职业功能表现更佳，但从伴侣角度对关节炎的接受度在文献中很少受到关注。事实上，尚未有人尝试定义伴侣对关节炎的接受度，目前也没有经过心理测量学验证的测量方法。
本研究旨在运用定性研究方法，确定伴侣对关节炎接受度的特征，并考察在关节炎背景下患者与伴侣接受度之间的异同。
21名患有关节炎患者的浪漫伴侣参与了一项半结构化访谈，重点围绕他们适应配偶关节炎的经历以及对接受度含义的总体看法。访谈记录采用主题分析法进行编码。
不同受访者对接受度的描述略有差异，但大多数参与者都认为接受是适应关节炎积极过程的一部分。确定了表征接受过程的六个主题：（1）理解关节炎的本质；（2）相信患者的疼痛体验；（3）与负面情绪共处；（4）建立新的常态；（5）参与有价值的活动；（6）关系意愿。
尽管伴侣对关节炎的接受度也有一些独特特征，但所确定的主题与体验性接受和患者慢性疼痛接受度有一些共同之处。这些发现表明，值得对这一独特概念进行更多研究。讨论了未来关于伴侣对关节炎接受度研究的方向。
